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The route to Southern Spain

As you depart the ferry, you have the entire country to enjoy, and if you are driving down to the southern Mediterranean coast the hardest decision may be the number of nights you take for the journey down and back. You have some hugely interesting cities, towns, mountain ranges and historic sites to visit, many which will be hard to pass by without making at least a short stop.
We have laid out below three suggestions for driving down with one, two or three-night stopovers in interesting places and at great Paradors.

Whether you push on down and just have one night stopping off, or you take three nights or more, the direct route is obvious and the driving is easy. You will want to take into account the arrival and departure times of the ferries when you consider how far to drive each day, and also to avoid the rush hour times as you pass around the outskirts of Madrid (approximately 8.30-10am, 1-2pm and 7-8pm) in particular.

Apart from that, there are toll charges on popular motorways to factor in to your costs, but Spain’s roads have frequent enough service stations and are well-maintained, making your road trip an enjoyable and relaxed experience.

The suggested routes we have displayed below are only 3 of many options you could consider, and if you would like our assistance in varying the route to take in sites such as Segovia (with its spectacular Roman aqueduct), Toledo (the panoramic ex-capital of Spain) or Córdoba (with its impressive Mezquita), amongst so many attractions across the country, please call us for an idea of costs for other routes.

(Please make a good allowance for breaks from driving, breakdowns and heavy traffic. The times stated below are based on driving without interruption)

One stopover each way

Alcalá de Henares - Lerma

The way down (based on midday ferry arrival):

Santander to Alcalá de Henares:
Approximately 284 miles / 4 hours 50 minutes.
You can take the A-67 towards Burgos and the A-1 towards Madrid.


Or Bilbao to Alcalá de Henares:
Approximately 248 miles/ 4 hours.
You can take the AP-68 and E-80 towards Burgos and the A-1 towards Madrid.


Alcalá de Henares to Málaga Airport:

Approximately 352 miles / 6 hours.
You can follow the Autovía del Sur A-4.

The way back:

Málaga Airport to Lerma:
Approximately 460 miles / 8 hours.
You can follow the E-5 towards Madrid and Burgos.

 

Lerma to Santander:
Approximately 157 miles / 2 hours 40 minutes.
You can follow the A-67 towards Santander.


Or Lerma to Bilbao:
Approximately 121 miles/ 2 hours.
From Burgos you can follow the AP-1 and AP-68 toward Bilbao.

Parador de Alcalá de Henares
Parador de Lerma

Two stopovers each way

Segovia/La Granja and Jaén - Toledo and Limpias/Lerma

The way down (based on midday ferry arrival):

Santander to Segovia or to La Granja:
Approximately 230 miles / 4 hours 30 minutes.
You can take the A-67 towards Burgos/Torrelavega and the A-601 to Segóvia. Parador of La Granja is 7 miles from Segóvia, follow the CL-601.

Or Bilbao to Segovia:
Approximately 220 miles / 4 hours.
Follow the A-1 towards Madrid/Soria and the N-110 to Segovia.

Or Bilbao to La Granja:
Approximately 220 miles / 3 hours 15 minutes.
Take the AP-68 towards Victoria/Gasteiz/Burgos. Then follow the A-5/AP-1 towards Burgos. Continue onto the E-5/A-1 towards Madrid/N-234 Soria. Exit 99 to join the N-110 toward Segovia.

Segovia to Jaén:
Approximately 260 miles / 4 hours 30 minutes.
Take the AP-61 and the AP-6. Continue onto the Autopista del Sur A-4.

Or La Granja to Jaén:
Approximately 269 miles / 4 hours 20 minutes.
Join the Ap-61 and the AP-6. Then follow the M-50 and the R-4 towards Aranjuez/Ocana/Cordoba. Join the E-902/A-44 towards Jaén/Granada/Málaga.

Jaén to Málaga Airport:
Approximately 133 miles / 2 hours 15 minutes.
Take the E-902/A-44 towards Granada/Motril and A-92 towards Málaga/Algeciras. Join the A-92M toward Malaga. Stay on the left to follow the AP-46/A-45/Málaga and A-45.

The way back:

Málaga Airport to Toledo:
Approximately 303 miles / 4 hours 50 minutes.
Join the A-45 towards Córdoba/Granada/Sevilla and the A-92M towards Granada. Join the A-92 and stay on the left the E-902/A-44/Jaen/Madrid to join the E-902/A-44 towards Madrid. Join the CM-42 toward Toledo and continue onto the A-42.

Toledo to Lerma:
Approximately 170 miles / 2 hours 50 minutes.
You can join the A-42 and continue onto the A-1.

Or Toledo to Limpias:

Approximately 330 miles / 5 hours.
Join the A-42 and continue onto the A-1. Then follow the AP-1 and stay on the left E-5/E-80/Bilbao/S.Sebastian to join the E-84/AP-68 and A-8.

Limpias to Santander:
Approximately 30 miles / 50 minutes.
Follow the Autovía S-10/S-10 (signs for Santander).

Or Lerma to Santander:
Approximately 156 miles / 2 hours 40 minutes.
Merge onto E-5/A-1 toward Burgos and BU-30/N-120/Burgos (Oeste)/León. Continue onto Autovía Cantabria-Meseta (signs for E-70/A-8/Bilbao/Oviedo/A-67/Santander). Merge onto A-67 towards Santander.

Limpias to Bilbao:
Approximately 41 miles / 60 minutes.
Follow the E-70/A-8 towards Laredo/Bilbao.

Or Lerma to Bilbao:
Approximately 121 miles / 2 hour 15 minutes.
Follow the E-5/E-80/AP-1 (signs for Vitoria/Logroño) and merge onto E-804/AP-68.

Parador de Segovia
Parador de Toledo
Parador de La Granja
Parador de Limpias
Parador de Jaén
Parador de Lerma

Three stopovers each way

Lerma, Toledo, Jaén - Cordóba, Chinchón, Limpias
The way down (based on midday ferry arrival):

Santander to Lerma:
Approximately 156 miles / 2 hours 35 minutes.
Take the A-67, then follow signs for E-80/BU-30/E-5/A-1/N-234/Madrid/BU-11/Burgos/AP-1/N-120/N-I and merge onto E-80/BU-30/E80 and A-1 toward E-5/Madrid/N-234/Soria.

Or Bilbao to Lerma:
Approximately 121 miles / 2 hours 15 minutes.
You can take the AP-68 (signs for Vitoria-Gasteiz/Burgos) and merge onto E-5/AP-1 toward Burgos. Then the E-5/A-1 towards Madrid/Soria.

Lerma to Toledo:
Approximately 184 miles / 3 hours.
Follow the A-1 and AP-41 toward Toledo.

Toledo to Jaén:
Approximately 178 miles / 3 hours 30 minutes.
Take the Autovia de los Vinedos.Merge onto Autovía del Sur/E-5/A-4 towards Puerto Lápice/Córdoba and A-44.

Jaén to Málaga Airport:
Approximately 133 miles / 2 hours 15 minutes.
Take the E-902/A-44 towards Granada/Motril and A-92 towards Málaga/Algeciras.
Join the A-92M toward Malaga. Stay on the left to follow the AP-46/A-45/Málaga and A-45.

The way back:

Málaga Airport to Córdoba:
Approximately 105 miles / 1 hour 45 minutes.
Follow the A-45 towards Córdoba/Granada/Sevilla.

Córdoba to Chinchón:
Approximately 230 miles / 3 hours 55 minutes.
Follow the E-5/A-4/Madrid to join the E-5/A-4.

Chinchón to Limpias:
Approximately 307 miles / 5 hours 15 minutes.
E-5/A-1, Continue onto E-5/E-80/AP-1 (signs for Vitoria/Logroño) and Continue onto A-8.

Limpias to Santander:
Approximately 30 miles / 50 minutes.
Follow the Autovía S-10/S-10 (signs for Santander).

Parador de Lerma
Parador de Córdoba
Parador de Toledo
Parador de Chinchón
Parador de Jaén
Parador de Limpias

3 & 7-night pre-set fly-drive Rutas across Southern Spain: